ordination

[ awr-dn-ey-shuhn ]

noun

1. Ecclesiastical. the act or ceremony of ordaining.
2. the fact or state of being ordained.
3. a decreeing.
4. the act of arranging.
5. the resulting state; disposition; arrangement.

ordination

/ ˌɔːdɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. 1. the act of conferring holy orders
   2. the reception of holy orders
2. the condition of being ordained or regulated
3. an arrangement or order

Other Words From

• nonor·di·nation noun
• postor·di·nation adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ordination¹

1350–1400; Middle English ordinacioun < Late Latin ōrdinātiō ordainment, Latin: a putting in order, appointment, equivalent to ōrdinā(re) to order, arrange (derivative of ōrdō, stem ōrdin-, order) + -tiō -tion

Example Sentences

Feminism, gay rights and the Vietnam War fueled additional discord, with more traditionalist congregants opposing the ordination of female priests and reacting furiously to mainline Protestant leaders who advocated from the pulpit.

From Salon

“Because I am not nor cannot be in pastoral ministry at this time in my life, I do not think reinstating my ordination is appropriate.”

From Seattle Times

The 2003 ordination of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, Gene Robinson, ignited long-simmering controversies.

From Seattle Times

They said African churches will keep the marriage and ordination bans in their region while remaining in the denomination.

From Seattle Times

The United Methodist Church removed a longstanding ban on the ordination of practicing gay clergy on Wednesday morning, making official a shift from a policy that had already begun to fray in practice, prompting the departure of a quarter of its congregations in the United States in recent years.

From New York Times